About Us
Mission
Empowering the Next Generation to Speak with Confidence
Over the last decade, the rise of social media has contributed to a noticeable decline in confidence among teens. Public speaking, a challenging task at any age, has become even more difficult for today’s youth due to this dip in self-assurance and the pressure to fit in. Public speaking, however, is about standing out and embracing one’s individuality with pride.
Founder
When I was 13 years old my aunt, a stroke survivor, asked me to help her present on stroke awareness in front of a large audience and needed my help due to her impaired speech. I reluctantly agreed to the presentation, which required me to speak publicly in front of hundreds of people. I was terrified at the thought, so my parents decided to sign me up for some local one-on-one public speaking cl...
classes. While I improved significantly, I felt a disconnect with my teacher, a professional actress who didn’t quite understand my anxieties as a nervous teenager. Despite this, my public speaking skills grew, and I successfully spoke at several events. When COVID-19 hit, I lost touch with my public speaking skills until I returned to in-person school. After nearly two years of Zoom classes, I noticed that my classmates were hesitant, stumbling over words and reluctant to speak up. Remembering how public speaking had helped me gain confidence, I wanted to help my peers. I began tutoring kids in public speaking for free, starting with friends and family and eventually expanding to dozens of students from the local youth group. My calendar filled up, and through trial and error, I refined my program and exercises. By September of my junior year, after tutoring over 50 kids, I decided to pursue my passion more seriously. Recognizing that I needed more knowledge to effectively teach public speaking, I immersed myself in learning. I read books by Dale Carnegie and Diane Windingland on public speaking and teen teaching and took courses at Cornell University on Executive Presence, Psychology, and Cognitive Science. Armed with this knowledge, I founded Teen Speakers Club (TSC), a non-profit dedicated to helping teens develop public speaking skills and confidence. I created an eight-module course with hands-on presentations, student handouts, and a mentor guide. I began using these materials with students and training other teens to become mentors. Over time, TSC has grown and made a significant impact in my community and beyond. The club is about harnessing the unique connection between teens to empower them to find their voices. Public speaking can be challenging at any age, but by making it relatable, we ease the learning process for young teens. Witnessing shy teens transform into confident speakers in just a few weeks fills me with pride. I look forward to continuing this TSC journey and hope you will join me in our mission of empowering the next generation of public speakers.
Our Mentors
The TSC team consists of dedicated student volunteers mentoring younger teens in our community. We’ve created a family focused on empowering young speakers, making a significant impact across Long Island and beyond. Read about mentor Lea Eshaghoff’s story and learn how to start a TSC movement near you!
Lea Eshaghoff, TSC Senior Mentor
3 years of experience
As a child, I was always very intimidated to stand in the front, with all eyes on me, having to get all of my words out while speaking and presenting perfectly.
Over time and through countless presentations, meetings, calls, speeches, and a public speaking course. I have managed to have much more confidence and skill when public speaking. So, when Elle approached me with this opportunity to work with TSC and help kids prepare for their speech occasions and confidence building, I just had to accept. Working with the different students has been such a great experience, mainly because I get to see how much more confident and professional the kids all become when presenting their speeches. Being able to see all of these young teens grow as speakers by helping them relieve the immense pressure and stress of presenting and speaking to an audience through a few sessions is so fulfilling, especially because I had experienced that same daunting feeling. I love being part of the TSC family and I look forward to being on the journey as the program grows!
Science behind TSC
TSC stands out by leveraging the bond between teens to make public speaking relatable and approachable. Founded by Elizabeth Matalon, who studied psychology and Cognitive Science at Cornell University, TSC’s success lies in creating a comfortable learning environment. Matalon discovered that students’ headspace significantly affects their retention and application of knowledge. By being taught by peers who understand their fears and struggles, students build trust and value their mentors’ lessons, leading to better progress. TSC isn’t just another public speaking program; it’s a supportive teen community that fosters confident, poised speakers through trust-based relationships.
